NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026 sets blood standards: The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026 is the first pharmacopoeia in the world to set exclusive standards for blood and blood components. It was released on 2 January 2026 in New Delhi by Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda. The 10th edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia includes 20 new monographs and 2 revised monographs for blood-related quality standards. The new standards cover blood and blood components used in transfusion services. These standards are legally enforceable in India and are aligned with the Directorate General of Health Services manual and other international guidelines. The standards are intended to support quality assurance in blood banking and to reduce blood transfusion-transmitted infections. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It develops and revises pharmacopoeial standards in India with expert inputs from across the country. The Commission is based at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
2. India Targets 100 GW Pumped Storage Capacity: India is targeting 100 gigawatts of pumped storage hydropower capacity by the financial year 2035-36. The Central Electricity Authority under the Ministry of Power has prepared a national roadmap for this target, and the 2026 Global Hydropower Outlook of the International Hydropower Association was released on 24 June 2026. As of December 2025, India had 10 pumped storage projects in operation with a combined capacity of about 7.2 GW. Another 10 projects with a combined capacity of 11.6 GW were under construction. India added 4,267 MW of hydropower in 2025 and reached a total installed hydropower capacity of 56,336 MW. The country’s total installed hydropower capacity, including pumped storage, stood at 50.91 GW on 10 January 2026, with pumped storage accounting for 7,175.6 MW.
3. Governor Calls Rate Hike Talk Premature: Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on 24 June 2026 that discussion on interest rate hikes was premature. The statement came after the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% on 5 June 2026. The repo rate is the rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities. The Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to retain the repo rate at 5.25% after cumulative rate cuts of 1 percentage point since February 2025. The Governor described the policy stance as neutral, which is one of the standard monetary policy stances used by central banks. The Monetary Policy Committee revised India’s gross domestic product growth forecast for fiscal year 2027 to 6.6% from 6.9%. The inflation projection for fiscal year 2027 was raised to 5.1% from 4.6%. The Reserve Bank of India monitors inflation through consumer price trends, food prices, fuel prices, and core inflation.
4. NAFED, NCCF to Procure Pulses and Oilseeds Directly: On 23 June 2026, the Union Cooperation Minister directed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) to procure pulses and oilseeds directly from farmers. The directive covers direct payment into farmers’ bank accounts and a two-year implementation target up to June 2028. Four initiatives were launched in New Delhi on 23 June 2026. Nafex.in is a digital auction platform for procured pulses and oilseeds, while DRISHTI is an inventory management system for pulses and oilseeds. ERP is an enterprise resource planning system for organisational management. NAFED Kalyan is a scholarship programme linked to higher education and career development for children from farming families.
5. PM Modi Meets IAS Trainees on Policy Impact: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with 183 Indian Administrative Service officer trainees from the 2024 batch in New Delhi on 23 June 2026. The trainees were serving as Assistant Secretaries in various ministries and departments at the time of the interaction. Data-driven governance uses measurable indicators, administrative records, and service delivery data for policy monitoring. In public administration, data is used for tracking implementation, identifying gaps, and reviewing outcomes across schemes and departments. IAS probationers are often attached to Union ministries and departments as Assistant Secretaries during field and secretariat training. This phase is used to familiarise officers with file processing, inter-ministerial coordination, and administrative procedures.
6. Government Defends E20 Fuel Programme: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India reaffirmed on 23 and 24 June 2026 that the ethanol-blending-programme/">Ethanol Blending Programme is scientifically validated and continuously monitored. The programme introduced 20% ethanol-blended petrol, known as E20, from 2023 onwards. E20 fuel contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol by volume. Ethanol has lower energy content per litre than petrol, and the government has linked the reported mileage dip to this property rather than to vehicle damage. The government has stated that no widespread cases of engine failure or vehicle breakdown directly attributable to ethanol blending have been reported since E20 was introduced. Claims that E20 fuel can invalidate vehicle insurance were also clarified with stakeholders and found to be incorrect on 24 June 2026.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi Offers Assistance After Venezuela Earthquake: Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck western Venezuela on 24 June 2026. The epicentres were reported near Montalbán and Yumare, west of Caracas, and damage was reported in the Venezuelan capital. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in Venezuela on 25 June 2026. The main international airport at Maiquetia was closed after severe damage, and early reports mentioned at least 32 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The United States Geological Survey estimated that fatalities from the earthquakes could range from 10,000 to 100,000. Collapsed buildings were reported in Caracas, which is the capital of Venezuela. An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the Earth’s crust caused by the release of energy along faults or plate boundaries. Magnitude is measured on seismic scales, and a magnitude 7.0 or higher is classified as a major earthquake.
2. India, US Advance Interim Trade Agreement Talks: India and the United States held discussions on an interim trade agreement and the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) during a visit by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to New Delhi from 22 to 24 June 2026. Both sides noted substantial progress in recent negotiations, while no deadline was announced for the interim deal or the comprehensive BTA as of 24 June 2026. An interim trade agreement is a temporary trade arrangement that can cover tariff concessions, market access, and sector-specific commitments before a full free trade agreement or comprehensive trade pact is concluded. In this case, the interim arrangement was framed in February 2026, with an initial target of April-May 2026 for completion.
3. Bangladesh Joins International Big Cat Alliance: Bangladesh joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) on 24 June 2026 as its 27th member nation. The IBCA is a treaty-based inter-governmental international organisation and legal entity headquartered in New Delhi, India. The IBCA was launched in April 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger. It became a full-fledged treaty-based international organisation and legal entity on 23 January 2025. The alliance works for the conservation of seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma. Bangladesh’s cabinet approved the decision to join the IBCA on 22 May 2026 after a proposal from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. India, a founding member of the alliance, invited Bangladesh to become a full member after discussions between Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on 8 and 9 April 2026.
4. J&K Seeks UNESCO Recognition for Sufiyana Music: Jammu and Kashmir sought UNESCO recognition for Sufiyana music, also called Sufiyana Mousiqi or Sufiana Kalam, for inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in June 2026. The proposal was prepared by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Kashmir chapter.
Sufiyana music is a classical art form of Kashmir that dates back to the 15th century. It is rooted in Sufi thought and combines devotional poetry, classical melody, and philosophical themes. The tradition is associated with Kashmir’s musical heritage and is performed in a classical framework. The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list is maintained by UNESCO for living traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, knowledge systems, and craftsmanship. UNESCO uses nomination files that document origin, community practice, transmission, safeguarding measures, and cultural significance. The framework includes requirements for documentation and measures for preservation and intergenerational transmission.
5. India Objects to Pakistan Remarks on Jammu and Kashmir at UN: India objected on 24 June 2026 to Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at a United Nations forum in New York. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, stated that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India. India has maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was formed after the reorganisation of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Chapter VI of the UN Charter deals with the pacific settlement of disputes through negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and judicial settlement. The UN Security Council has 15 members, including 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
6. India, China Discuss Gradual Normalisation of Ties: India and China discussed gradual normalisation of bilateral ties in New Delhi on 22 June 2026, when Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security. The two sides referred to progress in bilateral relations, while India and China also kept communication channels on border issues open and generally stable. The Special Representatives mechanism on the China-India Boundary Question is a formal dialogue channel between the two countries on boundary-related issues. India and China are preparing for the 25th round of Talks Between the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. IAF Sukhoi Fleet Carries BrahMos Missiles: As of 25 June 2026, about 40 Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters have been integrated with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The Indian Air Force has a total Su-30MKI fleet of 270 aircraft, and the air-launched BrahMos variant is adapted for carriage by the fighter after aircraft modifications. The Su-30MKI is a twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi and built in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The BrahMos-A is an air-launched version of the BrahMos cruise missile, which is a joint India-Russia weapon system developed by BrahMos Aerospace and the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The BrahMos missile is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from land, sea, air, and submarine platforms. The air-launched version weighs about 2.5 tonnes and requires structural and avionics changes in the aircraft for safe carriage and release.
2. IAEA Plans Inspections of Iran Nuclear Sites: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the United Nations nuclear watchdog established in 1957 and headquartered in Vienna, Austria. On 24 June 2026, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated in Tokyo that IAEA inspectors will visit Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. The statement came after an interim United States-Iran deal that includes IAEA supervision of nuclear activities. The IAEA has said that its immediate priority is to confirm the location of Iran’s enriched uranium. The agency plans to coordinate with Iran on dates and technical details within a 60-day timeframe. Since the 12-day war on Iran in 2025, Tehran has blocked IAEA access to enrichment sites, while routine inspections have continued at other facilities such as the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.
3. Indian Navy Ships Visit Vietnam for Maritime Cooperation: Indian Navy warships INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti arrived at Nha Rong Port in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on 22 June 2026. The deployment is a three-day goodwill and operational visit to Southeast Asia and is scheduled to end on 24 June 2026. Personnel of the Vietnam People’s Navy, representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, and port authorities gave a ceremonial welcome to the ships. One account of the deployment also names INS Taragiri as part of the task group, while INS Kavaratti is mentioned at a separate port in Ho Chi Minh City.
SPORTS
1. India’s 2036 Olympic Bid Process to Conclude in 2029: The International Olympic Committee approved a revised host selection process for the 2036 Olympic Games at its 146th Session in Lausanne on 24 June 2026. The host city for the 2036 Olympic Games will be elected in mid-2029, and India is in the Continuous Dialogue phase after submitting a Letter of Intent in 2024. The International Olympic Committee uses a multi-stage process for selecting Olympic hosts. The revised framework for 2036 includes Continuous Dialogue, Strategic Dialogue, and Targeted Dialogue phases. The Strategic Dialogue phase is scheduled to begin in March 2027, and the Targeted Dialogue phase is expected in late 2028. India formally entered the 2036 Olympic bid process in 2024 through a Letter of Intent. Ahmedabad is the proposed host city for India’s bid, and India is one of the countries linked to the 2036 race.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. PM Pushes e-Zero FIR Rollout for Cybercrime: On 24 June 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 52nd PRAGATI meeting and directed states to implement the integrated digital e-Zero FIR system for cyber fraud cases. The system is linked to the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is designed for high-value cyber financial fraud complaints. The e-Zero FIR is a digital mechanism that converts verified cyber financial fraud complaints into Zero FIRs. A Zero FIR can be registered at any police station, regardless of territorial jurisdiction, before transfer to the competent police station for investigation. The system is meant for complaints of financial fraud above ₹10 lakh that are filed through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal or the helpline number 1930. It supports faster registration of cases and immediate initiation of investigation in cyber fraud matters.
2. NASA Plans Swift Boost Mission for Telescope Rescue: NASA is preparing the Swift Boost mission to raise the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope launched in November 2004. The observatory is losing altitude because of atmospheric drag linked to increased solar activity, and it could re-enter Earth’s atmosphere by late 2026. The mission is scheduled for launch on 27 June 2026 aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket. The rocket will be carried by a Stargazer aircraft that will take off from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The mission uses a robotic servicing spacecraft named LINK, developed by Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies. NASA awarded a $30 million contract for the project in September 2025, and the spacecraft was built in 250 days.
3. ePlane Company Targets Commercial Production by 2028: The ePlane Company, incubated at IIT Madras, has completed assembly of its full-scale electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the e200X prototype (PT-01), in Chennai. The prototype has entered the ground testing phase, and the company has set commercial production for 2028 with an initial output of 80 aircraft a year. In February 2025, the company signed a deal valued at over USD 1 billion to supply 788 air ambulances to ICATT. Deliveries under this agreement are expected to begin between 2027 and 2028. The company was also planning a Series C funding round of USD 40 million to USD 50 million, with Speciale Invest expected to co-lead. The company has raised approximately USD 21 million for its eVTOL programme.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI Retains ₹1 Lakh Crore Threshold for NBFC Upper Layer: The Reserve Bank of India retained the ₹1 lakh crore asset-size threshold for classifying Non-Banking Financial Companies into the Upper Layer, or NBFC-UL, under its scale-based regulation framework. The revised rules came into effect on 24 June 2026 and use asset size as the main criterion for identification of NBFC-UL entities. NBFCs are classified by the Reserve Bank of India into layers for regulatory purposes. The Upper Layer includes NBFCs selected annually by the central bank for enhanced regulatory requirements, and the latest framework replaces the earlier parametric scoring method with a simpler asset-size criterion. The ₹1 lakh crore threshold for NBFC-UL will now be reviewed every three years. The earlier proposal had suggested a five-year review cycle, but the final rule shortens the interval to respond to changes in growth, inflation, and risk profiles.
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